Elevated expression of WNT3A has been found in prostate-, breast- and hepatocellular cancer tissue. Accumulating evidence has suggested that WNT3A promotes or suppresses tumor progression via the canonical Wnt signaling pathway depending on cancer type. A vast number of studies on the role of this molecule have been and are still performed (Sha H et al., Chin J Cancer. 2015;34(12):554-62). WNT3A remains to be a hot topic in cancer research
Wnt3a: Functions and Implications in Cancer. Sha H et al., Chin J Cancer. 2015;34(12):554-62..
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with both pathologic formation of new bone and enhanced bone resorption. Thus it is not surprising that molecules involved in either of those biological pathways may be valuable biomarkers to study this disease. It is well known, that the Wnt signaling pathway plays an essential role in bone remodeling (and therefore in AS) and so might the Wnt-protein family members and their antagonists, which has been proven by finding elevated levels of DKK-1 and WNT3A in AS patients (Klingberg E et al., Ann Rheum Dis. 2012;71:A64)
Elevated levels of Wnt3a and low levels of Dickkopf-1 in serum are associated with syndesmophyte formation in ankylosing spondylitis. Klingberg E et al., Ann Rheum Dis. 2012;71:A64.A variety of studies have been investigating Wnt-signaling in multiple myeloma (MM) because secretion of Wnt signaling inhibitors by the tumor cells contributes to MM-related bone resorption and disease progression. A lot of focus has been laid on studying regulators of the wnt-pathway (e.g. DKKs, sFRPs) as biomarkers in MM but there are only few data about the importance of WNT3A as marker in MM yet (Qiang YW et al., Blood. 2008;112(2):374-382.)
Wnt3a signaling within bone inhibits multiple myeloma bone disease and tumor growth. Qiang YW et al., Blood. 2008;112(2):374-382.
As wnt-signaling is the center piece of bone remodeling, Wnt-family members play a major role in osteoporosis (OP). Interestingly, WNT3A seems to mediate the beneficial effects of mechanical loading on bone quality (Li X et al. , FASEB J. 2019 Aug;33(8):8913-8924)
Wnt3a involved in the mechanical loading on improvement of bone remodeling and angiogenesis in a postmenopausal osteoporosis mouse model. Li X et al. , FASEB J. 2019 Aug;33(8):8913-8924
A number of studies have shown, that WNT3A has regenerative effects on spinal cord injuries (Yin ZS et al. Neurol Res. 2008 Jun;30(5):480-6). This makes WNT3A not only a therapeutically interesting molecule but also a potential biomarker for cell culture and animal models used for studying repair of such injuries
Repair effect of Wnt3a protein on the contused adult rat spinal cord.
Yin ZS et al. Neurol Res. 2008 Jun;30(5):480-6.
